A blank supermarket wall in Oamaru is to become a work of art and three North Otago artists are combining to produce a series of 11 panels for it, with an Oamaru theme.
In a 2010 redevelopment of the Countdown supermarket on the corner of Coquet and Thames Sts, its front window, which faced Thames St, was replaced with unattractive white-painted wooden panels.
These became a target for graffiti, despite anti-graffiti paint having been used.
''It was a problem to us and a problem to the community, who felt it was a bit of an eyesore,'' supermarket manager Brian Ware said.
It was suggested that the wall be painted and the idea was further developed by artists Donna Demente, Trish Shirley and Watts Davies, co-ordinated by Ken Laraman, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and the supermarket's owner, Progressive Enterprises, who came up with the idea ofthe artists' panels.
The cost will be $20,000. Countdown will contribute $15,000 of that and the council the rest.
Each artist is contributing portions of the panels, which are being combined and turned into huge prints by Street Concepts.
Yesterday, the first two were unveiled.
Eventually, the panels will occupy the whole length of the wall. At least one will be added each week.
